episode_0006

Episode 6. Finally! I knew a day like this would come!

As the large door opened, the interior was revealed.

On the long table, there were delicious dishes spread out, and three people were sitting at the table.

A 10-year-old girl with annoyed brown eyes and blue braided hair.

It was Léni Berdo, whom he had seen at the library.

In front of her sat a woman with similar blue hair tied up, exuding an aristocratic aura.

“…Andrion?”

Her deep green eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“Is it really Andrion?”

She seemed quite moved by his appearance.

‘So she must be the Duchess.’

She was Flia Berdo, the illegitimate daughter of Count Heshe and married to Léni.

And in the most prominent seat, there was a man with dark brown hair and deep brown eyes, resembling himself, with a kind appearance.

“It’s been a while.”

He smiled gently.

Although he originally had a kind appearance, he looked even kinder when he smiled.

It was as if he would laugh heartily even if he helped someone who got hurt while passing by and then got pickpocketed intentionally.

And he was none other than Theo Berdo, the head of the Berdo family in this generation.

Moreover, he had formed a contract with an intermediate earth spirit.

He opened his warm eyes and spoke.

“You finally came out of your room and joined us for a meal, my son.”

Duke Berdo called Roke, who was standing next to Andrion, gesturing with his hand.

Approaching him, Roke politely bowed and smiled cheerfully.

Then the Duke laughed heartily and said,

“Since our son is here today, tell the chef to prepare something special.”

“Yes, understood.”

As Roke left, Andrion could finally be certain.

‘So Andrion had been living like a recluse.’

That’s why everyone must be surprised just by his appearance.

With that thought in mind, Andrion walked slowly and sat next to Léni.

“What’s this? Why are you sitting next to me?”

Ignoring her sunny remark, Andrion casually took his seat.

Just as Léni was about to say something, Andrion’s food was immediately served.

Without the food, Léni could only give a pained expression without saying anything. The food looked delicious at first glance. The tender meat and well-cooked vegetables were appetizing. And various dishes were laid out, starting with the sweet potato soup. “It looks delicious, but…” As soon as she took a bite, Andréon’s face brightened. “Wow. It’s amazingly delicious.” He had never tasted such delicious meat before. It was tender, juicy, slightly crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. Seeing Andréon’s delighted expression, the Duchess smiled and spoke. “How is it? Does the food suit your taste?” Andréon nodded slightly in response. “Yes. It’s very delicious.” Clang! Startled by the sound of a breaking glass, Andréon turned his gaze towards the source of the noise. The Duchess, who had dropped the glass, stood frozen, her eyes wide with surprise. While the maids hurriedly cleared the broken glass, her pupils trembled as if she had heard something wrong. “…This can’t be true.” Her mouth opened slightly. “To answer my question…” A heavy silence fell over the restaurant. Léni and the Duke also stared intently at Andréon, as the atmosphere became strangely tense. Andréon felt somewhat flustered by the strange turn of events. ‘What’s going on?’ He had simply given a simple answer. But the reaction was unexpected. ‘Could it be that this spoiled brat of a master doesn’t even respond to his mother?’ Andréon felt a chill down his spine. ‘Because of that, I’m in danger now!’ The Duchess trembled, covering her mouth with trembling hands. She seemed quite shocked. Well, it would be strange if she didn’t react when her son suddenly started doing something he hadn’t done before. ‘Is she suspecting something?’ Cold sweat trickled down Andréon’s forehead. ‘Even if I say I didn’t answer just now, it’s still suspicious…’ In the midst of chaos and confusion, the Duchess slowly opened her mouth. “Finally! I knew a day like this would come!” …Excuse me? Andréon’s expression froze. “Our son! Answering my question and looking into my eyes!” The Duchess shed tears as if deeply moved.

It was a look that didn’t have a single trace of doubt.

He simply seemed pleased about the change in his son.

“But the problem is not the Duchess…”

Andrion glanced at the Duke discreetly.

“Despite having a good personality and appearance, he is still a person with the position of a duke.”

He could be sensitive to small changes.

At that moment, the Duke called Roke next to him with a serious expression.

“Roke.”

“Yes.”

As Roke approached with a bright smile, the Duke’s eyes strangely hardened.

“No way…”

Simultaneously, Andrion became tense.

It was clear.

“He must have figured something out.”

Or why else would he call the butler with such a stern face?

“What should I do?”

As cold sweat trickled down Andrion’s back, the Duke commanded in a low voice.

“Designate today as…”

Gulp.

Andrion swallowed heavily.

It felt like his palms were sweating profusely.

“…a commemorative day.”

…Pardon?

The Duke slammed the table with his fist.

“It’s a day when our son had a meal together and responded properly and normally to his wife’s words!”

Andrion’s mouth gradually fell open.

“No. Excuse me?”

Suddenly designating it as a commemorative day, what does that mean?

But the Duke was very serious and sincere.

“I will announce it. Today shall be designated as a commemorative day of the Duke’s decree!”

With his hand stretched out, the Duke shouted almost ferociously.

And seeing the Duke and Duchess in such a state, Andrion blinked his eyes and muttered inwardly.

“This place… is completely strange.”

* * *

In short, the commemorative day that the Duke intended did not come to pass.

It was because Roke gently smiled and spoke.

“While it is a sufficient reason to make it a commemorative day, I think the opposition from the Council of Elders will be severe. I’m sorry, but it would be better to convey it with our hearts alone.”

Of course, since Andrion actively supported those words, the situation was resolved, and the meal resumed.

“Wow. It’s delicious no matter how much I eat.”

While Andrion happily took a bite of meat. The Duchess cautiously spoke up.

“Oh, by the way, Andrion.”

“Yes.”

She elegantly sliced the meat with her graceful touch and spoke.

“It seems that the engagement ceremony with the princess will take place soon.”

Upon hearing her words, Andrion’s hand paused slightly.

“As expected.”

He asked with an indifferent expression, “When is the engagement ceremony?”

“Her Majesty hopes to proceed as soon as possible. It will probably take place next week.”

‘In other words, it’s the day Rubya’s intense crush begins next week.’

Isaac, who got lost on his way to the engagement party, coincidentally ended up in the garden where he encountered people gossiping about Rubya.

Kind-hearted and gentle Isaac, unable to bear their frivolous remarks, became angry, and they received a one-sided beating from him.

And due to this incident, Isaac received a week of house arrest, while Rubya, who secretly observed the situation, began to feel interested in him.

‘Maybe it was the moment when I found it fascinating that he gets angry even though it’s someone else’s business.’

As she thought that, Léni smiled mockingly and spoke in a sarcastic tone.

“It’s fortunate that even a worm like you has some use to the family. How dare you become the princess’s partner.”

“Léni! What are you saying to my brother!”

The Duchess raised her voice at her words.

However, Andrian, the person concerned, simply looked at Léni.

Her eyes were filled with dislike, sadness, and more.

One thing was certain.

‘She really hates me.’

Léni despised Andrian.

To be precise, affection and hatred coexisted as family.

‘In other words, it’s not a feeling of contempt just because I lack ability.’

The reason roughly came to mind.

It was because it was written in the novel.

Maybe Andrian died and said it at the funeral.

[“I never wanted to become a duke or anything like that.”

Léni smiled as if Asrai would disappear and said,

“But still, I have to accept this fate that I can’t help.”

She murmured as she placed chrysanthemums on Andrian’s grave.

“That’s why I hated you from the moment you failed the contract. Andrian Berd.”

]

Why she didn’t want to become a duke, it wasn’t explained in detail, but what was certain was that she didn’t want to become one.

‘Maybe there was something she wanted to do…’

Anyway, that’s why she hated Andrian, who was originally supposed to become a duke.

If he had not summoned the spirit, he wouldn’t have become a guardian.

“But in the end, you have to become a guardian.”

I will definitely do it.

That’s why it didn’t matter how she felt about herself.

However,

“Even though our relationship will soon disappear, isn’t the term ‘vermin’ a bit excessive?”

Thinking that way, Andrión spat out his words to Léonie.

“But your words are a bit short, aren’t they?”

“What did you say?”

In response to those words, Léonie scrunched up her face as if asking what was wrong with him.

“How old are you?”

“…10 years old.”

“How old am I?”

“13 years old.”

Seeing Léonie answer obediently despite her annoyance, Andrión let out a small laugh.

“I’m your older brother. Even so, calling your older brother ‘vermin’ is a bit much, don’t you think?”

At those words, Léonie’s mouth jutted out.

“Then act more like an older brother!”

In response to her irritated remark, Andrión pointed at Léonie while grinning.

“Do I have to act like an older brother for you to tell me how old you are?”

“…I’m 10 years old.”

And this time, Andrión pointed at himself.

“How old am I?”

“You’re 13 years old!”

In response to Léonie’s exclamation, Andrión lazily tugged at the corners of his mouth and smiled.

Not liking that side of Andrión, she scowled.

“So what! What does it matter!”

In response to Léonie’s shouting and pouting, Andrión burst into laughter again.

It was as if a small hedgehog was raising its spines to protect itself.

“If I bother her any further, she’ll cry.”

With that thought, Andrión chuckled and resumed eating his food.

As the meal was nearing its end, there was one thing that mattered now.

“My goal is to awaken Rubia and escape to the Academy, stopping Isaac.”

Fortunately, they were in an engagement relationship with Rubia.

Thanks to that, they had enough reason to meet, so all they needed to do was find a way to awaken her after finding it.

“Yes! Let’s stay strong.”

First, let’s get to know each other better!

While Andrión was thinking that, Léonie looked at him with a strange expression.